AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) recently released its survey on elephant population covering Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. The five countries together hold half of the world’s Savanna elephants. Except Zambia, other countries have seen an increase in populations.

Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA)

• It is the second-largest nature and landscape conservation area in the world, spanning the international borders of five countries in Southern Africa.
• It includes a major part of the Upper Zambezi River and Okavango basins and Delta, the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, the southeastern part of Angola, southwestern Zambia, the northern wildlands of Botswana and western Zimbabwe.
• The centre of this area is at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers where the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet.
• The region is home to a population of approximately 250,000 animals, including the largest population of African Elephants in the world.

African Elephant

• About: They are slightly larger than Asian Elephants and can be identified by their larger ears. (Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears)
• African Savanna (or bush) elephant: IUCN Red List: Endangered
• African Forest Elephants: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered